bad strut mount or spring seat? **Video included**

[huzzsaba]

Car: 99 volvo v70 t5
Mileage: 225000 kms

I have been getting this sound coming from the driver side since I bought the car a year ago. The sound was intermittent but is now getting louder and more consistent.

The sound is a creaking sound which is likely coming from the strut mount/spring seat area. I also get a light clunk sound when turning to the right or when the steering returns back to center after turning right. No sounds whatsoever when going over bumps or anything of that sort.

I am almost convinced it is not linked to any other suspension part because I had the rest of the front end replaced less than 6 months ago and the sound was there before and after.

I have included a video of the sound. Basically I want to try and avoid replacing the strut mount if i don;t have to. I know a lot of you have experienced a bad spring seat so the video should help.

here is the link to the video..........

[jblackburn]

Spring seat.

Replace it with an OEM XC90 unit (yes, the big SUV one) or an IPD HD one.

[JRL]

Strut Mount IS the Spring Seat (which is completely broken in half... replace both at these miles
As was said, buy XC90 spring seatsYou may also need new struts and possibly strut bearing plates at these miles but those need to be looked at after the strut comes out for the spring seat assembly

[erikv11]

Actually, to the great majority of the world (like to parts suppliers!), "strut mount" means the same thing as "strut bearing plate."

The spring seat is often called the "strut mount bushing" maybe that is what you were thinking of.

[JRL]

Actually not

[jblackburn]

Actually yep.

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/p ... +Seats+Kit

OP, don't buy those. They do sell the OEM ones, but not in a kit like that.

[JRL]

Yes, according to FCP but
NO according to Volvo
Yes, it makes perfect sense to call the lower a strut mount (or the upper for that matter) but
No, not according to Volvo
If you go to Volvo you need to order a Spring Seat for the upper and a "Bearing Plate" for the lower.
That's what Volvo's parts computer prints out

[jblackburn]

Sure, but it's tossed around like that so much by parts vendors that there's nothing wrong with erik's statement.

Actually, to the great majority of the world (like to parts suppliers!), "strut mount" means the same thing as "strut bearing plate."

Besides, no one orders parts directly from Volvo dealers if they can help it. They mark up prices 200% or more sometimes.

[erikv11]

JRL you probably know what you are talking about, you usually do, but I can not make much sense of your last post. Seems to me you have upper and lower switched around.

Back on topic: if you head over to the terrific Volvo dealer parts diagrams, that Volvo of Oak Park in Chicago (http://www.volvopartswebstore.com) puts up, a resolution to OP's question is very clear:

you can see that at this Volvo dealer,
#5 (the upper piece) is officially called a "Support Plate" link to dealer page
#6 (the lower piece, that sits right on the spring) is called a "Spring Seat" link to dealer page

It is #6 that is definitely broken on OP's car, and he wants to replace it with part number 30683637 from an XC90. I agree that replacing both is good advice. The car will need an alignment once the job is finished, might as well do them both. And the strut mounts (#5) may also be bad but who knows, as JRL said in his first post.

But I probably wouldn't buy the spring seat from that site ($43 each). The same part is $31 each at http://www.tascaparts.com. Keep in mind Tasca usually charges an arm and a leg for shipping, so find out how much. And IF you can get FCP to guarantee they are selling you the genuine Volvo item (get them on the phone, and don't get s buyinguckered into "OEM" because at FCP that means "aftermarket"), for a better price, then that is the place to go. Remember you MUST buy the Genuine Volvo branded part, or the HD one from IPD, or you will be doing the job again soon.

You could also just go with the no-hassle, good price ($42 each) from www.eeuroparts.com. Spend over $59 and get free shipping, too.

[JRL]

That diagram is incorrect and backwards

#6 which is called a SPRING SEAT goes on the top and is what is broken on his car